Statistical optimization of curcumin nanosuspension through liquid anti-solvent precipitation (LASP) process in a microfluidic platform: Box-Behnken design approach

The paper deals with the development and optimization of curcumin nanosuspension by solvent/anti-solvent precipitation method in a microfluidic platform. A three-level Box-Behnken design was applied as an optimizing technique to investigate the effect of three independent operating variables, namely, volume ratios of anti-solvent to solvent, flow rate of drug solution, and curcumin concentration on the preferred response. In presence of PVP as the stabilizer, a nano-curcumin suspension was obtained in the range of 62–335 nm. Analysis of variance showed that the variables with the highest effect were the linear effects of the anti-solvent to solvent ratio, and its corresponding squared term. Applying response surface methodology, curcumin nanosuspension with average size of 63.12 nm can be obtained under optimum condition As: S=15, solvent flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and curcumin ethanolic concentration of 5.0 mg/mL. The prepared nanoparticles were further characterized by infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction tests.